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10/14/2024
Fuel distribution activities resumed yesterday from SeaPort Manatee terminals to southwest and central Florida, as the region recovers from Hurricane Milton's Oct. 9 landfall.
As power restoration began at the port, limited landside cargo operations have resumed. Per U.S. Coast Guard direction, waterside operations are operating during daylight hours, with channel activity limited to a single direction, port officials said in a press release.
The port is located on the port's western side at the entrance to Tampa Bay where it meets the Gulf of Mexico. Milton, the second hurricane to impact Florida in two weeks, made landfall along the state's western coast.
Since then, widespread power outages and flooding have impacted the state’s supply chain, making it difficult for people to get gasoline.
“SeaPort Manatee is a critical gateway for supplying fuel stations throughout our region and beyond, with a flow of nearly 400 million gallons a year,” said Carlos Buqueras, SeaPort Manatee’s executive director.
The port serves as the ships-to-shelves gateway for southwest and central Florida markets, with rail and roadway links, including to the distribution-center-filled Tampa/Orlando Interstate 4 corridor. Port Manatee Railroad operates 7 miles of track and interchanges with CSX.